ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
President's Secretariat
General Duty Medical Officers of The Central Health Services Attending 4th Foundation Training Programme Call on The President
General Duty Medical Officers  of the Central Health Services attending the 4th Foundation Training Programme at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, called on the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, today  at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Addressing the young doctors, the President said that our country has made great strides in providing healthcare to our people. Diseases such as polio and smallpox, which once claimed so many lives, have been defeated. Our immunisation programme is gaining strength. We have brought down the Maternal Mortality Rate and Infant Mortality Rate. Yet, we still face many challenges and have a long way to go in evolving a holistic healthcare system, one which is uniformly affordable and accessible to our citizens both in rural and urban areas. In this regard, it is a matter of satisfaction that the government has made Universal health coverage a priority. The rollout and success of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a critical step in this direction. We have to keep building on this great momentum and doctors will play an important role in doing so.
The President said that the disease burden in our country is undergoing an evolution. We have to tackle widespread diseases such as TB, malaria and dengue, and at the same time deal with the rising incidence of lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, depression etc. He urged doctors to work towards a multidisciplinary approach to health – from prevention, wellness, cure, community empowerment to research and innovation.
The President said that as doctors, they can play a major role in encouraging healthy lifestyles. We can address the increasing stress in our lives with regular exercises and physical activity, practicing Yoga and Meditation. Doctors can be a major influencer in promoting such lifestyles and bringing about a culture of wellness.
Click here to see the President's speech
Cabinet
Cabinet approves Relaxation in Aadhaar related Conditions for Second Instalment under PM - KISAN scheme
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Relaxation in Aadhar related Conditions for the release of Second Instalment of income support to all Small and Marginal land-holder farmers’ families with cultivable land-holding up to 2 hectares across the country under PM - KISAN scheme.
The Scheme seeks to provide income support to all Small and Marginal landholder farmers' families with cultivable land holding upto 2 hectare across the country, by way of payment of Rs.6000/- per year, subject to certain exclusions. The Scheme has been launched by the Prime Minister on the 24th February, 2019. The amount is being released in three 4-monthly instalments of Rs. 2000/- each over the year, to be credited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries held in destination banks through Direct Benefit Transfer mode. A total amount of more than Rs.2000 crores has already been released to more than one crore farmers' families across the country in the first lot of 1st instalment. Further releases for the 1st instalment to the remaining beneficiaries are being made.
The 2nd instalment under the scheme would be admissible after the1st of April, 2019. In this connection, it is stated that the Union Cabinet, while approving the scheme on 1.2.2019, made Aadhaar seeding of the beneficiaries' data compulsory for release of 2nd instalment onwards. However, it would be difficult to get 100% Aadhaar seeding for release of funds for 2nd instalment, as efficient seeding of beneficiaries' details with Aadhaar requires bio-metric authentication. Demographic seeding will result in large scale rejection as the spellings of names have to be exactly the same. Non-seeding of beneficiaries' details with Aadhaar number will delay the release of 2nd instalment as it is due on 1st April, 2019 and will cause discontent among the farmers. Therefore, this condition has been relaxed. The condition will remain applicable for release of 3rd instalment onwards. However, Aadhaar number shall be compulsory for release of 2nd instalment. The Government will take adequate measures to validate the data before payment is made.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Consultative Committee of Ministry of Civil Aviation Meets
Minister of Civil Aviation says that the Ministry has taken initiatives to promote sustainable development in the aviation sector and reduce carbon emissions at Airports
Consultative Committee of Ministry of Civil Aviation met in New Delhi today. The subject of discussion was ‘Greening Airports’. The Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia chaired the meeting which was attended by Hon’ble MPs, Minister of State for Civil Aviation   V.K. Singh  and senior officials of the Ministry.
Briefing the members about the subject, Shri Scindia said that India’s Aviation sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years. He said that India has 148 operational airports including 137 airports, 2 water aerodromes and 9 heliports. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken initiatives to make airports carbon neutral and reach the target of net zero carbon emissions. The Minister said that to promote sustainable development in the aviation sector and reduce carbon emission at airports, Ministry of Civil Aviation  has organized Knowledge Sharing Sessions to standardize Carbon Accounting and Reporting framework of Indian airports as well as to make awareness on climate change mitigation. The Ministry has advised all operational brownfield airports and upcoming greenfield airports to work towards achieving carbon neutrality and net zero which inter-alia includes use of 100 percent Green Energy. The State Governments have been advised to ensure carbon emission reduction measures. Further, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority has been advised to take into account the cost associated with the green energy use for airports tariff determination. The Ministry has also taken steps to encourage use of sustainable aviation fuel.
The Minister also spoke about initiatives taken for reduction of Green House Gases in air space which include Flexible Use of Airspace, Implementation of Central Air Traffic Flow Management, Implementation of Performance Based Navigation, and Implementation of Continuous Descent Operations. Shri Scindia said Delhi and Mumbai airports have achieved highest level 4+ carbon accreditation of ACI. Airport Authority of India  has already installed solar power plants at various airports with cumulative capacity of more than 54 MWp as on date. Most of the Airports have been given the target of achieving 100 percent use of green energy by 2023 and net zero by 2030. He said that having more carbon neutrality airports in India will help the country in achieving its overall target of carbon neutrality/ net zero.
The Minister thanked Hon’ble MPs for their valuable suggestion in the meeting.
Special Service and Features
Ecstasy Pills and MDMA crystalsfromGermanyand Netherlands seized by Chennai AirCustoms. Two detained.
Chennai Air Customs has detained four postal parcelssuspected to contain narcotics substance, which arrived from Germanyand Netherlands at Foreign Post Office, Chennai.
On opening the first parcel which arrived from Germany, two plastic pouches were found inside and on examination, 100 red colour and 50 blue colour MDMA pills were was found concealed. These red colour pills embossed with the logo of Tesla Companycontain 224 mg of MDMA and blue colour pills had EA SPORTS embossed over them contain 176 mg of MDMA. On examination of the second parcel which had arrived from Netherlands, 100 peach colour MDMA pills were found. These pills were in the shape of a human skull known as MY BRAND/ Totenkopf Skull and contain 248 mg MDMA. On opening the third parcel which had arrived from Netherlands, 26 pink colourpills of MDMA were found. These pills were marked with Jurassisand had an image of Dinosaur over it contain around 300mg MDMA. The fourth parcel on examination was found to contain 7 grams of MDMA Crystal.Total 276 MDMA pills, 7 grams of MDMA crystalsvalued at Rs9 Lakhswere recovered and seized under the NDPS Act, 1985.
Two parcels were addressed to different persons in Chennai city. As a follow up action, searches were carried out and one person has been detained to ascertain his role in the smuggling of the drugs. Two Other parcels were destined to addresses outside Chennai. One parcel was found addressed to a person in Auroville, which is an experimental township in Viluppuram district of Tamil Nadu near Puducherry. Consignee was found to be a young Indian lady, who is working as a volunteer in Auroville. She has been detainedto ascertain her role in the smuggling.Another parcel was found destined to an address in Salem District in Tamil Nadu and on enquiry it was found that the addressee name was fake.
Further investigation is in progress.
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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the following four GST related bills:
1. The Central Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 
2. The Integrated Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 
3. The Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 
4. The Goods and Services Tax  Bill 2017 
The above four Bills have been earlier approved by the GST Council after thorough, clause by clause, discussion over 12 meetings of the Council held in the last six months.
The CGST Bill makes provisions for levy and collection of tax on intra-state supply of goods or services for both by the Central Government. On the other hand, IGST Bill makes provisions for levy and collection of tax on inter-state supply of goods or services or both by the Central Government.
The UTGST Bill makes provisions for levy on collection of tax on intra-UT supply of goods and services in the Union Territories without legislature. Union Territory GST is akin to States Goods and Services Tax  which shall be levied and collected by the States/Union Territories on intra-state supply of goods or services or both.
The Compensation Bill provides for compensation to the states for loss of revenue arising on account of implementation of the goods and services tax for a period of five years as per section 18 of the Constitution  Act, 2016.
Background:
The Government is committed to early introduction of GST, one of the biggest reforms, in the country as early as possible. GST Council has decided 1st July as the date of commencement of GST. The Finance Minister in his Budget Speech has mentioned that country-wide outreach efforts will be made to explain the provisions of GST to Trade and Industry.
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
‘Video-tutorial of Youth Parliament’ launched under Iconic Week Celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav  by Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
The ‘Video-tutorial of Youth Parliament’ premiered on Sansad TV here today. A large number of people watched the video-tutorial. The tutorial showcased the noble ideals of Youth Parliament like encouraging tolerance of divergent views, addressing problems by debating and discussing, etc. with a view to strengthen the roots of our democracy and spread democratic ethos among our student community to familiarise them with the Parliamentary procedures and functioning. The tutorial also carries the message of AKAM.
The repeat telecast of the tutorial will be aired on Sansad TV as per the following schedule:-
First repeat telecast - At 2 p.m on 02.06.2022
Second repeat telecast - At 6 p.m on 05.06.2022
The video-tutorial has also been hosted on the YouTube channel of National Youth Parliament Scheme  of the Ministry and can be accessed at https://youtu.be/ut32HqVbHeg .
Ministry of Jal Shakti
'World Toilet Day' to be celebrated tomorrow under 'Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen; Union Minister of Jal Shakti to felicitate top Districts/States with ‘Swachhata Puraskar’
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation , Ministry of Jal Shakti will be celebrating 'World Toilet Day' tomorrow i.e. November 19, 2020 under 'Swachh Bharat Mission - Grameen ' for promoting awareness on access to Safe Sanitation and felicitating districts/states for making significant contribution towards Swachhata.
Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat along with the Minister of State, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria will felicitate top Districts/States with ‘Swachhata Puraskar’ tomorrow i.e. November 19, 2020 through a virtual event. Given the prevailing Covid-19 scenario, Awards ceremony this year is being organized virtually with awardees connecting via online platforms.
Phase 2 of SBMG has been launched early this year for sustaining the gains made under Phase 1  with focus on ODF Sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management . Various campaigns focusing on construction and beautification of Community Sanitary Complexes  have been undertaken countrywide over past one year like Swachh Sunder Samudayik Sauchalay  and Samudayik Sauchalay Abhiyan .
Ministry of Railways
Indian Railways generated 14,14,604 mandays during the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan
Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan was announced on 20.06.2020 for 125 days i.e., up to 22.10.2020. The Indian Railways identified 143 numbers of ongoing infrastructure projects like doubling of railway line, electrification of line, construction of new line, construction of Bridge/Road over Bridge, Signaling works etc. for expediting the progress of these projects, under Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan in six selected States. Details are as under:
|
|
S.No.
|
|
State
|
|
No. of Infrastructure Projects
|
|
1
|
|
Bihar
|
|
36
|
|
2
|
|
Jharkhand
|
|
4
|
|
3
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
28
|
|
4
|
|
Odisha
|
|
6
|
|
5
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
16
|
|
6
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
143
Indian Railways generated 14,14,604 mandays during the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan in above States. Details are as under:
|
|
S.No.
|
|
State
|
|
No. of mandays generated
|
|
1
|
|
Bihar
|
|
3,95,527
|
|
2
|
|
Jharkhand
|
|
20,572
|
|
3
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
2,05,415
|
|
4
|
|
Odisha
|
|
84,190
|
|
5
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
1,96,521
|
|
6
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
5,12,379
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
14,14,604
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
PIB Headquarters
DO RESPECT THE TRADITION WHILE BEING MODERN: PROF. E. SURESH KUMAR, VC-EFLU
Professor E. Suresh Kumar, Vice Chancellor, English and Foreign Languages University urged the student fraternity to respect the tradition while being modern. While speaking as Chief Guest at the ‘National Handloom Day Celebrations’, organized by Directorate of Field Publicity, Ministry of Information & broadcasting in association with EFLU and Department of Handlooms and Textiles, Government of Telangana, Shri Suresh Kumar stressed on the need to encourage weaving community by buying and wearing handlooms regularly.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri MVVS Murthy, Director General, Press information Bureau, M/o Information& Broadcasting said that there is a need to avoid clothes made from Plastics and Petrochemicals for the benefit of the environment. At the same time, weavers need to improve the quality in their making with the changing times.
Shri Arunkumar, Deputy Director, Ministry of Textiles said that handlooms are the second biggest industry in the country. Weaving community needs support from all quarters of the society, he said. Shri Srinivasa Reddy, Additional Director, Department of Handlooms and textiles, Government of Telangana said that with the new polices of state government, weaving community is benefitting largely. Various programmes were planned as part of the National Handlooms Day on August 7, he said. Joint Director, Directorate of Field Publicity, Shri M. Devendra, Filed Publicity Officers, I. Haribabu, B. Taraka Prasad, MD. Shaffi and G. Koteshwar Rao were present. Prizes distributed to the winners in different competitions by the DFP on the occasion. Weaver Rapolu Krishna Murthy explained on the experiences in weaving.
Ministry of Railways
Steps for Animal Safety Near Railway Tracks
A number of preventive measures have been taken by Zonal Railways to reduce animal fatalities on Railway track, which include the following:
- Cleaning of garbage and removal of wild vegetation along the track.
- Sensitization of Train Crew on a regular basis for frequent whistling at locations prone for cattle/animal run over.
- Construction of fencing/boundary wall at identified locations of trespass by cattle/animal and approaches of major towns.
- Counselling of villagers for taking necessary steps to avoid cattle coming near track through safety seminar/propagandas in villages.
- Avoid dumping of food waste along railway track to avoid unnecessary congregation of animals near railway track.
A number of steps have been taken on railway lines running through forest areas, which include the following:
- Imposition of suitable speed restrictions in identified vulnerable locations.
- Providing signage boards at suitable points to alert train drivers about elephant & other animal presence.
- Provision of fencing at isolated locations.
- Installation of innovative Honey bee sound systems at locations, which are prone to crossing of elephants.
- Construction of underpasses and ramps for the movement of wild life at identified locations in consultation with Forest officials of the area.
- Forest Department staff deputed in Railway control offices to liaison with Railway and elephant trackers engaged by Forest Department for timely action by alerting station master and loco pilots.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
PIB Headquarters
2.6 Kg Gold worth Rs. 1 crore and 10K USD seized by Customs at Airport - one arrested.
On Thursday four passengers Mohamed Azarudeen,24, and Imthiyas,21, from Ramanathapuram, Azarutheen, 24, and Abdul Kalam Asath, 23, from Pudukkottai, had arrived from Colombo by Srilankan Airlines flight UL125 and three passengers Mohammed Imran Khan, 30, of Chennai, Mohamed Mansur Ali, 30, and Khan Mohamed, 41, both of Ramanathapuram from Singapore by Air India Express flight IX-687, Dubai by Indigo Airlines flight 6E-66 and gulf Air GF 68 respectively, were intercepted on suspicion of carrying gold concealed on their person. On persistent questioning they admitted to have concealed gold in the form of rubbery material in their rectum. On extraction total 2 Kg gold of 24K purity valued at Rs. 80 lakhs was recovered and seized under Customs Act 1962. One person was arrested.
In another two cases, Mohamed Refaydeen,22, of Pudukottai and Mohamed Ibrahim, 70, of Cuddalore arrived by Emirates Airlines flight EK 544 and Indigo flight 6E 1202 from Dubai and Colombo respectively were intercepted at exit. On personal search 65 grams of gold cut bits concealed in pant pockets and 5 bundles of gold in rubbery spread concealed in their rectum were recovered. After extraction 678 grams of gold valued at Rs. 27 lakhs was recovered and seized under Customs Act. On further examination 5 refurbished laptops and 5600 sticks of cigarettes valued at Rs. 81000/- were recovered same were seized under the provisions of Customs act 1962.
On Thursday late night one Abdeen, 67, of Ramanathapuram who was bound to Singapore via Colombo by Sri Lankan Airlines Flight UL 124/ UL 306 was intercepted at the departure terminal. On personal search 10,000 US Dollars equivalent to Rs. 7 lakhs was found concealed inside his leather Chappals. The same was recovered and seized under Customs Act 1962 read with FEMA   Regulations, 2015.
Further Investigation is under progress, according to a press release issued by the Commissioner of Customs Chennai International Airport, Chennai.
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Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
Amidst Covid Gloom, KVIC Blooms; Generates Highest Ever Employment under PMEGP; MSME Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari Hails Performance
In a year marred by the economic despair surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, Khadi and Village Industries Commission  has just recorded its best ever performance in job creation under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program . In FY 2020-21 ending March 31, that was largely affected by the nationwide lockdown, KVIC disbursed Rs. 2188.78 crore to create a whopping 5,95,320 jobs under PMEGP, the highest ever since its launch in 2008. In 2020-21, KVIC established 74,415 projects across the country.
Hon’ble Minister for MSME, Shri Nitin Gadkari lauded the achievement of KVIC and said that creation of local jobs would provide livelihood to lakhs of people, in turn, bolstering the country’s economy.
In year 2020-21, against the margin money disbursement target of Rs. 2,120.81 crore, KVIC doled out Rs. 2,188.78 crore and achieved 103.2% of the target, nearly 14% more than margin money disbursed in 2019-20. In setting up of new projects and employment generation, KVIC achieved 106.2% of the target.
KVIC Chairman Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena attributed this achievement to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s clarion call for “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and “Vocal for Local” and constant guidance and support of MSME Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari.
The government’s thrust to local manufacturing has prompted many youths, women and distressed people to take up self-employment activities under PMEGP.
Two major decisions by KVIC regarding timely execution of applications also helped the cause. First, the timeframe for scrutinizing and forwarding the applications to the banks by its state directors reduced from 90 to 26 days. Second, monthly coordination meetings with the banks were started at different levels which has also helped timely disbursal of loans to the beneficiaries.
|
|
YEAR
|
|
No of Projects Established
|
|
Margin Money Disbursed 
|
|
Employments Created
|
|
2020-21
|
|
74,415
|
|
2188.78
|
|
5,95,320
|
|
2019-20
|
|
72,612
|
|
2149.75
|
|
5,80,896
|
|
2018-19
|
|
73,427
|
|
2070.00
|
|
5,87,416
Ministry of Finance
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2022-23  – Issue Price
In terms of Government of India Notification No.4-B/2022 dated December 15, 2022, Sovereign Gold Bonds 2022-23  will be opened for subscription during the period March 06-10, 2023 with Settlement date March 14, 2023. The issue price of the Bond during the subscription period shall be ₹5,611  per gram, as also published by RBI in their Press Release dated March 03, 2023.
Government of India in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India has decided to allow discount of ₹50  per gram from the issue price to those investors who apply online and the payment is made through digital mode. For such investors the issue price of Gold Bond will be ₹5,561  per gram of gold.